Porting apparatus for a refrigerated storage chamber

ABSTRACT

A pair of openings of appropriate size are formed in the refrigerated chamber, one at each end thereof. The inner opening end includes a cylindrical band covered by a perforated plate. An elongated hollow cylinder of poor heat conducting material is received within the opening, its inner end being seated within the cylindrical band. The other cylinder end is sealed to an annular fitting that is secured to the outer chamber wall. A resilient expandable plug is removably received within the annular fitting and hollow cylinder to hermetically seal the passageway.

United States Patent 1191 Tempero [451 Sept. 10,1974

1 1 PORTING APPARATUS FOR A REFRIGERATED STORAGE CHAMBER [75] Inventor:Robert Tempero, San Jose, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Transfresh Corporation, Salinas,

Calif.

22 Filed: May30, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 257,882

[52] US. Cl. 220/42 B, 220/9 G, 98/37, 52/204, 52/303 [51] Int. Cl B65d41/00 [58] Field of Search 220/14, 15, 42, 85 P, 85 V, 220/D1G. 19;138/89, 89.1, 89.3, 91, 96 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 157,447 12/1874 Hough 98/96848,917 4/1907 McElligott et al. 52/303 1,198,400 9/1916 Anderson...98/37 1,757,179 5/1930 Engelcke 220/14 2,271,733 2/1942 Clark 98/373,141,172 7/1964 Hirschmann 98/37 3,220,079 11/1965 Aggson 52/2043,289,288 12/1966 Croteau 3,318,639 5/1967 Deve 3,363,538 l/l968Stoneman et al. 98/122 3,471,179 10/1969 Sixt 138/89 PrimaryExaminer-William 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Joseph Man- Fu MoyAttorney, Agent, or Firm-George J. Netter ABSTRACT A pair of openings ofappropriate size are formed in the refrigerated chamber, one at each endthereof. The inner opening end includes a cylindrical band covered by aperforated plate. An elongated hollow cylinder of poor heat conductingmaterial is received within the opening, its inner end being seated.within the cylindrical band. The other cylinder end is sealed to anannular fitting that is secured to the outer chamber wall. A resilientexpandable plug is removably received within the annular fitting andhollow cylinder to hermetically seal the passageway.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PORTING APPARATUS FOR A REFRIGERATED STORAGECHAMBER and removal of the chamber atmosphere and temporary sealingthereof.

BACKGROUND In the storage and shipment of foodstuffs such as freshvegetables, meat, for example, it is typical to refrigerate the storageor transportation chamber, such as a container, truck or freight car, tomaintain it at a relatively low temperature. That is, low temperaturehas been found beneficial for increasing the life, appearance and tasteof many foodstuffs, which is highly desirable due to the relatively longperiods of time that may exist between initial handling and provision tothe ultimate user.

Also, it has been found advisable, for certain kinds of comestibles, tomodify the atmosphere in the container or chamber interior within whichthe food materials are stored or transported to retard but not preventthe progress of the aging respiratory change equation. For example, inthe case of lettuce, the oxygen level within the container is lowered bypurging the container with nitrogen gas. Other gases are then added tofurther prevent spoilage of the lettuce. Accordingly, it is customarypractice that the special environmental atmospheres are provided to thestorage space by pumping the special atmosphere through a first openinginto the space while permitting the original air content to be forcedout through a second opening, the storage space being otherwisesubstantially gas-tight. Afterward, the two openings are maintainedclosed during storage or shipment of the foodstuffs to contain thepreservative atmosphere as well as to close off the refrigeratedinterior and prevent such'leakage as would substantially alter the low"temperature of the interior.

Due to the relatively large volume of such storage and shipment means asa container, freight car or a truck trailer, to purge the interior ofthe initial atmoshere and replace it with an artificial atmospherewithin a reasonable period of time, the chamber porting apparatus is ofsuch size that it can accommodate a relatively high fluid volume flowtherethrough. A concomitant problem resulting from the size of theporting apparatus is not only that leakage of the artificial atmosphereout of the interior and the reverse direction flow of exterioratmosphere into the container can occur, but of particular concern isthe ingress of heat to the refrigerated interior via the portingapparatus.

In order to prevent the placement of contraband material within thecontainer, a perforated plate is placed across the inner end of theporting apparatus.

OBJECTS It is, therefore, a primary aim and object of the presentinvention to provide chamber porting apparatus having improved fluidsealing characteristics and which is readily opened and closed forpassing gases therethrough.

Another object of the present invention is the provi sion of wallporting apparatus for use in a refrigerated chamber having exceptionallygood insulation against the transfer of heat.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of improvedporting apparatus for refrigerated food storage containers which arereadily opened and closed with a minimum of labor and which in theclosed condition provide a substantial fluid tight condition for thecontainer interior as well as providing a poor path for the transfer ofheat to the interior.

Yet another object is the provision of a refrigerated chamber portingapparatus having an expansible plug member for sealing the port openingduring storage and/or transportation.

Another object is to prevent the placement of contraband material insidethe container.

SUMMARY A pair of openings of appropriate size are formed in the wallsdefining the refrigerated chamber, one at each end thereof. The innerend of the opening includes a cylindrical band anchored to the innerwall which is covered by aplate having a plurality of perforations. Anelongated hollow cylinder of a poor heat conducting material is receivedwithin the wall opening, its inner end also being received within thecylindrical band and sealed therewith by a resilient cementitiousmaterial. The other cylinder end is sealed to an annular fitting by thesame or similar cementitious material,,w hich fitting is secured to theouter chamber.

wall. A resilient plug is removablyreceived within the annular fittingand hollow cylinder to hermetically sealed the passageway.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of arepresentative storage and/or transporting container for food materialsin connection with which the porting apparatus of the subject inventionhas especial utility.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, sectional, side elevational view of the portingapparatus of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the porting apparatus of FIG.2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings andparticularly to FIG. 1, there is shown schematically a typical containeror chamber 10 for foodstuffs such as fresh produce for example, whichcan either be a room or a freight car or a truck trailer within whichthe materials are received during transportation and temporary storageenroute. In the main, the chamber 10 includes wall members defining anenclosed space and refrigeration equipment (not shown) for maintainingthe interior of the space and the food materials contained therein at asufficiently low temperature throughout storage and/or transportation toinhibit deterioration- A pair of porting assemblies 13 and 14 located atopposite ends of the chamber 10 are provided for admitting anenvironmental atmosphere of predetermined composition and at the sametime flushing the interior of the original atmospheric gases. In view ofthe relatively large size that the porting assemblies must have in orderto quickly and easily change the gas content of the chamber 10, itisimportant that these assemblies be suitably sealed against leakage ofgas as well as not serving as significant sources of entry for heat tothe interior which would disturb the refrigerated state of the interior.In the past, too little concern has been given to the matter of heatloss through porting assemblies which has resulted in local temperatureincreases adjacent the inner ends of the assemblies detcriorative to thefood materials. As will be brought out, the described porting apparatusnot only provides the required hermetic sealing, but also provideslittle if any more heat loss at the assembly sites than is experiencedthrough the side walls themselves.

With reference now to FIG. 2, the wall construction for the refrigeratedcontainer or chamber is seen to comprise an exterior metal wall sheet15, an interior metal wall sheet or plate 16 spaced from the exteriorsheet, with the intervening spaced filled with a suitable insulatingmaterial 17 such as glass fiber wool, for example.

An opening of suitable dimensions is formed in both the exterior andinterior wall sheets and 16 before the insulation is added. A circularmetal bandlike retainer ring 18 is attached to a plate 20, having aplurality of openings 21, by weldments 19. This assembly is flttinglyreceived within the opening at its interior mouth and secured to thewall sheet 16 by threaded members or rivets (not shown) passing throughcorner openings 22 when finally assembled.

An elongated, hollow cylindrical tube 23 has a diameter of suchdimensions as to permit fitting receipt of one end within the retainerring 18, and a length that extends through substantially the entirecontainer wall thickness. The tube is constructed of a non-metallic,

good heat insulating material such as polyvinylchloride,

for example. It is important, since this tube comprises the major massof the porting assembly, that it be a poor heat conductor in order tokeep to a minimum the conduction of heat from the exterior to therefrigerated interior.

At the external end of the wall opening there is provided a hollowretainer cap 24. More particularly, the cap includesan axially directedcircular opening 25 for being received onto the outwardly directed endof the tube 23 and a radially inwardly projecting continuous shoulder 26lying opposite the tube end edge. A further axial opening 27, of adiameter greater than that of opening 25, faces outwardly from theshoulder 26. An annular flange 28 serves as the means for securing theretainer cap to the exterior wall sheet via rivets 29, for example.

During assembly, the tube 23 is hermetically sealed to the retainer ring18 and to the retainer cap 24 by the quantities 30 and 31, respectively,of a resilient caulking compound. It is important that the caulkingcompound not only provide a gas-proof securement, but also it shouldretain its resiliency throughout use in order to accommodate flexing anddimensional changes in the various parts resulting from differingtemperature coefficients of expansion of the parts. Although othermaterials may be found satisfactory, excellent results have beenobtained in a construction of the invention with a silicone caulkingmaterial sold under the trade designation Dow Corning No. 781.

Plug means 32 is adapted for fitting receipt within the retainer cap 24and tube 23 (FIG. 2) for stoppering the central cavity of the portingassembly. Specifically, the plug means includes a cylindrical metal cap33 of a diameter less than that of the opening 27, but sufficientlylarge to permit edge engagement with the shoulder 26.

Affixed to the cap 33 is a hollow, elongated cylindrical body member 34of compressible material which extends through substantially the fulllength of the tube 23. In particular, the body member is constructed ofa pliable rubber or plastic that can be expanded to form a gas-tightseal.

In providing a special environmental gas to the container interior, theplug means 32 are removed from each of the porting assemblies 13 and 14.Then, typically, the food materials are stacked in the container, thedoors 11 and 12 are closed, and the special gas is pumped through one ofthe porting assemblies while as the same time, air is purged from thecontainer via the other porting assembly. On completion of the gasexchange, the plug means are placed in the porting assemblies cavitiesand expanded maintaining the integrity of the container interior both asagainst leakage dissipation of its gas content and warming of therefrigerated interior.

What is claimed is:

l. Fluid porting apparatus for installation in a wall opening of arefrigerated chamber including spaced inner and outer wall sheets,comprising:

a hollow cylindrical member constructed of a good heat insulatorreceived within said opening and extending through substantially theentire wall thickness;

bandlike retainer means secured to the inner wall sheet portionsadjacent the inner end of the wall opening and within which retainermeans a cylindrical member end is received;

a hollow annular retainer cap secured to the outer wall sheet adjacentthe wall opening and within which retainer cap the other cylindricalmember end is received;

separate bodies of a permanently resilient material sealing thecylindrical member ends to the retainer means and to the retainer cap,said bodies forming the sole interconnection means and preventing fluidflow therebetween; and

plug means removably received within the retainer cap and cylindricalmember.

2. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, in which the cylindricalmember is constructed of a polyvinylchloride.

3. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, in which there is furtherprovided a foraminous plate affixed to the inner wall sheet and coveringthe inner end of said opening.

4. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said plug meansincludes a hollow cylindrical body portion having walls formed of apliant material.

5. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said plug meansincludes a hollow cylindrical body portion and an enlarged head portion,said retainer cap having a first opening therein of dimensions suitablefor passing the cylindrical body portion therethrough and a secondlarger opening within which the plug means head portion is received.

6. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, in which the plug meansincludes a hollow cylindrical expandable body portion which sealinglyengages the inner wall surface of said cylindrical member.

7. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, in which the annular retainercap has a continuous bore, said bore having an inwardly opening portionof a first diameter and an outwardly opening portion of a seconddiameter larger than said first diameter, and said bore portions tionhaving outer walls formed of a resilient material,

being separated by a radially inwardly extending shouland an enlargedhead portion which abuts against the der.

8. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 7, in which said plug meansincludes a hollow generally cylindrical por- 5 shoulder during assembly.

1. Fluid porting apparatus for installation in a wall opening of arefrigerated chamber including spaced inner and outer wall sheets,comprising: a hollow cylindrical member constructed of a good heatinsulator received within said opening and extending throughsubstantially the entire wall thickness; bandlike retainer means securedto the inner wall sheet portions adjacent the inner end of the wallopening and within which retainer means a cylindrical member end isreceived; a hollow annular retainer cap secured to the outer wall sheetadjacent the wall opening and within which retainer cap the othercylindrical member end is received; separate bodies of a permanentlyresilient material sealing the cylindrical member ends to the retainermeans and to the retainer cap, said bodies forming the soleinterconnection means and preventing fluid flow therebetween; and plugmeans removably received within the retainer cap and cylindrical member.2. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, in which the cylindricalmember is constructed of a polyvinylchloride.
 3. Fluid porting apparatusas in claim 1, in which there is further provided a foraminous plateaffixed to the inner wall sheet and covering the inner end of saidopening.
 4. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said plugmeans includes a hollow cylindrical body portion having walls formed ofa pliant material.
 5. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, in whichsaid plug means includes a hollow cylindrical body portion and anenlarged head portion, said retainer cap having a first opening thereinof dimensions suitable for passing the cylindrical body portiontherethrough and a second larger opening within which the plug meanshead portion is received.
 6. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, inwhich the plug means includes a hollow cylindrical expandable bodyportion which sealingly engages the inner wall surface of saidcylindrical member.
 7. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 1, in whichthe annular retainer cap has a continuous bore, said bore having aninwardly opening portion of a first diameter and an outwardly openingportion of a second diameter larger than said first diameter, and saidbore portions being separated by a radially inwardly extending shoulder.8. Fluid porting apparatus as in claim 7, in which said plug meansincludes a hollow generally cylindrical portion having outer wallsformed of a resilient material, and an enlarged head portion which abutsagainst the shoulder during assembly.